Fluid heating apparatus



cent the firin tunnel 3 and the arrangement is such that t e gases passing to this heating element leave combustion chamber 2 at a point close to the point of entrance of combustible materials into this zone but also that the gases, leaving chamber 2 to pass around heating element 23, are substantially the coolest gases within this zone, having passed entirely around the combustion zone in a path substantially as indicated by the arrows, Spent combustion products leave the furnace to.a stack (not shown) through flue opening 26.

As a feature of the present invention the convection heating element 23 and the radiant heating element 14 may each be divided into a plurality of sections, permitting the oil entering the heating elements to be divided into a plurality of streams of variable proportions and thus permitting control of the amount of heat absorbed in each heating bank of the heating elements. This feature will be more apparent by reference to Fig. 2 of the attached drawing which diagrammatically illustrates one path of flow of oil through the heating elements. A portion of the chargin stock enters that portion of the convection heating element 23 indicated at 27, passing downwardly through successive rows of tubes countercurrent to the flow of combustion gases and may thence be trans ferred through line 28 to the upper or shielded row 18 of radiant heating element 14 thence through the lower or exposed row 17 of the radiant heating element and out through line 2 Another portion or the charging stock, which may be material or the same nature as that introduced into portion 2? of the convection bank or may be, if desired, a different charging stock and which may bear any desired ratio to that portion of the total charge introduced into 2?, is supplied to that portion of the convection bank 2? indicated at 30. This oil also passes downwardly through successive rows of heat" tubes countercurrent to the ilow tion gases and may be transferred through line 31 to the outer or shielded row 21 of rediant heating element 14-, thereafter passing through first the intermediate row 20 and then the inner or exposed row 19 of the radiant heating element finally leaving the furnace through line 32. lhe two streams of heated oil may preferably be combined in line 33 and pass to subsequent stages of the process.

It will be apparent that the improved method and means of heatin hydrocarbon oils embodied by the present invention may be utilized to advantage either in heating oils to the relatively high temperatures employed in cracking, or may be utilized in lower temperature distillation processes, tor example, in the distillation or topping of crude petroleum.

It will also be apparent that while one particular path of flow for the oil undergomg heating is illustrated and described the invention is not so limited as many combinations of the various portions of the radiant and convection heating elements may be utilized to advantage in combination with the features of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A furnace comprising in combination, a combustion chamber, means for introducing combustible fuel into said chamber, a heating chamber, means for directing the hot products of combustion from the combustion chamber into the heating chamber into contact with the floor and opposite wall of the heatin chamber, and a row of fluid passageways I isposed in said heating chamber opposite and parallel to said floor and a second row of fluid passageways disposed in said heating chamber opposite and parallel to said wall, and means for removing combustion gases from said heating chamber at a point opposite said wall and adjacent said combustion chamber.

2 furnace comprising in combination, a combustion chamber, means for introducing combustible fuel into said chamber, a heat ing chamber, meets for directing the hot products of combustion from the combustion chamber into the heating chamber into contact with the door and. opposite wall of the heating oil amber, row of fluid passageways disposed in said heating chamber opposite and parallel to said floor, a second row of fluid. passageways disposed in said heating chamber opposite parallel to said wall, and an outlet duct disposed above and adjacent said combustion chamber and opposite said wall and in communication with said heating chamber,

3, comprising in combination, a combustion chamber, means for introducing combustible fuel said chamber, heating chamber, means for d recting the hot products of combustion from the combustion chamber into the heating chamber into contact with the floor and opposite wail of the heating chamber, a row of fluid passageways disposed in said heating chamber opposite and parallel to said floor, a second row of fluid passageways disposed in said heating chamher opposite and parallel to said. well, an outlet duct disposed above and adjacent said combustion chamber and opposite said wall and in communication with said heating chamber, and a plurality of passageways disposed in said outlet duct,

4, A furnace comprising in combination, a combustion chamber, means for introducing combustible fuel into said chamber, a heating chamber, means for directing the hot products of combustion from the combustion chamber into the heating chamber into contact with the floor'and opposite wall of the disposed in sai heatin chamber a row of-fluid assagewa s' g d heating cham er opposille and parallel to said floor, a second row of fluid passageways disposed in said heating chamber opposite and parallel to said wall, an outlet duct disposed a ove and adjacent said combustion chamber and opposite said wall and in communication with said heating chamber, and a plurality of fluid assageways disposed in'said outlet duct, said prodnets of combustion entering the heating chamber being adapted to circulate adjacent the confining walls of the heating chamber and be discharged through the outlet duct.

' 5. In combination, a furnace comprising a combustion chamber, a heating zone communicatmg with said combustion chamber,

means for introducin combustible fuel into said combustion cham I r and passing the hot products of combustion into the heating zone along the floor and against the opposite wall.

thereof, and means for removing the substantially spent products of combustion from the heating zone at a point adjacent the point of entrance of said hot products into said heat ing zone.

6. in combination, a furnace comprising a combustion chamber, 'a' heating zone communicating with said combustion chamber,

means for introducin combustible fuel into said combustion cham r and pass' the'hot products of combustion into the'heating zone, means 'for removing the substantially'spent products of combustion from the heating zone at a point adjacent the point of entrance of said hot, products into said heating zone, and means for establishing a circulation of said products of combustion from the combustion chamber to the spent roducts exit, which comprises a floor and wall of the heating zone disposed respectively adjacent and opposite the point .of entrance of the hot products of combustion into the heating zone and a lurality ot fluid passageway disposed in said heating zone oppositesai floor and wall and adjacent the exit of the spent prod-v ucts of combustion.

In testimony whereof I afiixny signature.

LYMAN, HUFE. 

